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Review: The Stroppies, Crofters Rights
Hailed as a Melbourne supergroup, The Stroppies at the Crofters Rights are a lovely end to a golden Tuesday in Bristol.
Purveyors of deliciously jangly indie finely sliced with introspection and pop melancholia, they pump out a tight and precise performance that ups the BPMs noticeably from the versions committed to vinyl. Their songs evoke the feeling of nostalgic memories on a hazy summer day.
Singer, guitarist and synth player Gus Long and singer and bassist Claudia Serfaty lock into really satisfying harmonies that wouldn’t have been out of place floating out of Glasgow in the late 90’s. Particularly apparent in Cellophane Car, which along with First Time Favourites, has its shimmery sweet 60’s vibes really levelled up by a spectacular Casio clad in wood flavoured coating. That said, a synth break that appears between songs towards the end tiptoes towards the Transylvanian and somewhat pops the mood.
is needed now More than ever
The exactitude with which they slam the rhythmic switcharoos in the mid-set Present Tense is as impressive as it is satisfying. A fact which couldn’t help but flash all over Gus’s Face. Claudia serves the super cool, stoney faced badassery of indie-pop dreams throughout, all the while underpinning the songs with a bedrock of bass.
The charmingly crafted wedges of thoughtful indie-pop are delivered with care and attention by a really excellent band. With that in mind, I really can’t place why I feel that I haven’t come away with anything I couldn’t have found on their record. I really can’t help but describe the set as more than incredibly solid. Maybe I am asking too much? Maybe the very docile crowd aren’t feeding them the vibes to bounce off?
Either way, If I had to choose between seeing them live and buying their record, I would do the latter. Their first full-length album Whoosh is out now on Tough Love Records and is worth every minute put into it.
Read More: Review: Tom Jones, Bristol County Ground
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